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About West African Drumming

 

Many different cultures have their own types of drums and rhythms and I find it all fascinating. The West African version of drums and rhythms just happens to be my favorite. The rhythms I teach in class are traditional, meaning they all have a long history of being played for specific events and/or celebrations in the region of Africa now comprised of Senegal, Guinea, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. This region was once the Mali Empire (from approximately 1230 to 1600), the birthplace of the djembe and dunun. The region is now referred to as "the Mandingue", hence the term "Tam Tam Mandingue" or "Mandingue drums".

About Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy

 

The world's first and only international school of West African drumming, founded in 1992 by the legendary Guinean master drummer, Mamady Keita. The mission of Tam Tam Mandingue is to "preserve, teach and perform the traditional percussion music of the Mande, specifically [on] the djembe and dunun drums." My favorite expression of Mamady's is "The drum does not see people's color. The drum does not see people's gender. The drum does not see people's age. What the drum sees is people's hearts."  In other words, drumming is for everyone and it's about the human experience as much as the drumming itself. Visit ttmda.com to learn more about the academy.

 

About the Drums and Rhythms

 

The Djembe is the "goblet shaped" drum we use in class and it is played with both hands. The Djembe plays patterns that accompany and embellish the main melody of each specific rhythm.

 

The Dunun are the 3 bass drums played with sticks. Together they create the main melody of each specific rhythm. The moment you discover that the melody of each rhythm is different will be an exciting one! The Dunun are often outfitted with metal "bells" which are struck in conjunction with striking the skin. The smallest Dunun is called the Kenkeni; medium is the Sangban and largest is the Dununba.

 

The rhythms are polyrhythmic -- that is, each specific rhythm is comprised of several differing underlying rhythms played on the various drums. This is what makes West African music so fantastic ... and fun to play! There is structure to the music, but not rigidity -- once you've got the basics, there is plenty room for individual expression!

 

About SEWA Drum School

 

I was given an opportunity to pilot a West African drumming program for kindergarten and elementary aged children at Clemson Montessori School in Clemson, SC. during the 2012-2013 school year.  It was not only embraced by the students as a favorite activity but the parents loved what their kids were experiencing too. Some of the parents and teachers ended up becoming students themselves!

 

I founded SEWA Drum School in 2014 to spread the joy of drumming to kids outside of Clemson Montessori and to adults as well. I love to teach and enjoy watching the students transition from doubt to pure excitement when they learn a rhythm. I take pride in showcasing the students at local festivals and schools.  

 

About Susan

 

Susan received her Certified Associate Drum Instructor certificate in 2013.  She completed her studies at Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy (Winston–Salem, North Carolina), a branch of the International School founded by Mamady Keita. As of October, she will be assisting with the 2015-2017 Drumming Instructor Training program in Winston-Salem.

 

She began her journey into West African Drumming after attending the Kumandi Drum and Dance Camp in the North Carolina Mountains in 2006.  Soon after, she began taking classes in Greenville, South Carolina with the Spirit Beat Drummers and guest instructor Greg Pratt of Asheville, NC.  She studies with Grand Masters Mamady Keita and Bolokada Conde and occasionally has the privilege to perform with Bolokada during local events. 

 

Go to the classes page to learn more about the programs Susan teaches.  She also gives private lessons, does school residencies, workshops and presentations, and tunes djembes.

 

Bill Scheidt

Bill is Director of Tam Tam Mandingue Winston-Salem. Bill is a close personal student of Mamady Keita, and a certified Professor in Mamady’s international school of the djembe, Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy. Bill joins a small handful of drummers from around the world who have been commissioned by Mamady Keita to preserve and teach the music, culture, spirit and traditions of the Mandingue djembe. 

 

Bill is one of the most intelligent, compassionate, and fun-loving teachers I have ever had. He teaches without judgement and with the goal for everyone to succeed. I am honored to call him my djembe teacher and my paisan!

 

Check out the TTM Winston-Salem site here.

Bolokada Conde

BolokadaGrand Master drummer from Guinea, now lives in Greenville, SC. That's right! A mere 50 minute drive from my home.  I am so grateful and honored to have Bolokada as a teacher and friend.  Performing with him is so much fun.  I thought I'd be nervous, but his humble demeanor and effervescent smile have an energizing and a relaxing effect at the same time.  He is incredible to watch.  My students always leave his workshops with huge smiles of joy on their faces.  Keep an eye out for a workshop near you.

 

Bolo travels the globe spreading his passion and love for the djembe. He occasionally offers classes in Greenville, is available for private lessons, and for repairing and re-heading drums. 

 

Learn more about Bolokada at http://bolokadaconde.blogspot.com or contact him here!

Mamady Keita

I first met Mamady during a weekend-long workshop in November 2012 in Atlanta. It was an inspiring challenge to learn with the founder of Tam Tam Mandingue. I got my first taste of one of Mamady's famous "pyramid" compositions - basically a string of rhythms arranged with intros, breaks, outros and solo techniques, played back-to-back. It was mind-blowing! I then had the privilege to learn from Mamady for a week in Tulum, Mexico in 2014. I learned ten of his self-created rhythms, solo techniques, and so much more. Then in 2017 I attended the 25th anniversary celebration of TTMDA in Monterrey, Mexico!  We performed another pyramid of rhythms and some of Mamady's self-created rhythms at the Escuela Superior de Musica. Watching him implement the pedagogy I learned in training was amazing.  He truly is a genius!

 

Mamady's book of Mandingue rhythms, "Mamady Keita: A Life for the Djembe" is the djembefola's bible. Get it here!

 

Learn more about Mamady Keita at http://www.ttmda.com/mamadykeita

Ben Weston and Piri Molnar

Ben, Piri and I completed the Drumming Instructor Training, a demanding two-year course of study, with Tam Tam Mandingue Winston-Salem in 2013.  I attritube much of my success in this program to their support, teaching skills, humor, friendship and .......POP quizzes!  They are both phenomenal teachers.

 

 

Piri loves to play dunun and teaches classes at the Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. You can reach her at piriba.m@gmail.com  or (864) 561-3677.

 

 

Ben offers group and private classes in the Greenville/Spartanburg area.  He also tunes and re-heads drums and runs workshops on how to tune or repair your own drum. Check out Ben's website at: http://benkweston.wix.com/sewaba

 

 

About My Teachers

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